Nothing works anymore

[tuberbob]

I just installed the new X3CE in my xbox 1.6b, and I seem to be having a range of problems. I have spent hourse reading, and all I get is conflicting information.

I used the external bank selector switch as part of the install, and everything was set to off by default when I installed the chip. All the solder joints are clean and correct, but when I turned the system on, nothing. So I started fiddling with switches. The winning combo was "off off on off off"...I got to the flash bios 3.03 screen. Followed the tutorial, burned the bios cd, and went to flash. Well, it says I am supposed to flash with settings on "on off off off". That doesn't work, cause the chip won't boot. Oh, and the whole backup bios thing hasn't worked once.

So I set the switches to my original working settings: "off off on off off," and commenced the flash. Three quarters through, it froze. Now on that bank I get a red and green flashing LED (FRAG), and everything else, including the backup BIOS trick, ends with a solid amber led light, which I cannot find a definition for anywhere.

So am I screwed here or what? I bought this thing thinking it was the best chip out there, and nothing has worked the way the tutorials said it would yet, and I am not an incompetent person. The only thing I have going now is an Xbox with a chip in it that runs only as a stock Xbox...

 

[Dreamreaper]

Check and recheck your solder points, you sure you have not missed a point on the LPC rebuild?

It is the best chip by far, no one said it is incompetence, but I will bet a pound to a pinch it is your soldering at fault.

 

[luap]

you have to set the chip to on on off off off NOT on off off off off if you wanna flash the bios for the first time..so basicly you tried to flash your chip with a 1024kb bios in a 512 bank..bad move..

this IS the best chip ever..you just have to know how to use it

 

[Rookio]

I think the reason for conflicting information where the switch is concerned is that there are two types of switch. The Pro switch has the protect as the first switch while the standard/stock switch has the protect last.

Hope this helps you sort out the correct switch bank, and as for the flash halting half way through, if you confirm the correct switch bank and still get the error, it may be you are using the wrong bios. If that's the case, let us know the full filename of the bios. Cheers dude

 

[tuberbob]

Yeah, I am gonna try checking the solder points tonight with a magnifying glass, but I spent three hours using 2 sets of pics I found to be sure the LPC rebuild was on right. What I am failing to understand is why the Flash screen would only come up with the switches in the one position...my impression was that it should come up no matter what. And what about the backup bios not working? Or the amber light? I really want this to work, but can't help wondering if somehow I got a bad chip or something...

Oh yeah, and thanks for all the info/tips. The bios I used was the latest release for 1.6b, 3294, downloaded from the FTP link I got via #xbins on Efnet. I researched the whole 'chip thing for two months or more before buying this thing, and really I do believe it's an awesome chip, but something here just isn't kosher!

 

[Rookio]

I should have mentioned earlier, sorry! the 1.6B requires flashbios 3.0.3 and so it does not work on any other bank setting (including your backup bank) The only option to get this working is to hotswap the chip or to put it into an older version xbox.

When you flash the chip next, make sure you use the v16plus version of the bios. The rar file you download contains a couple of files. Amber light could be due to bad bios, or i have seen amber light because the non-standard VGA cables were being used.Just a thought.

as a side note, if you can get flashbios on your screen, chances are the soldering is o.k. so don't spend too long working on the motherboard or it may overheat and cause problems.

Good luck.

 

[tuberbob]

Well Rookio, I am a lot more excited that I may NOT have destroyed the chip after your last post...I am in fact using an aftermarket AV cable that has S-Video, so maybe that is why I am getting the amber light. I haven't turned the iron on, but the solder joints are all good. I cleaned the tiniest bit of excess flux away from one, but otherwise, everything is very clean.

I don't understand the hot swapping bit, but I did use the v16plus version of the bios. If I can get into the backup, is there any way I can try a re-flash with correct switch settings?

 

[Rookio]

Yeah, basically hotswapping is when you boot up a working X3 chip, then get ready to flash it. Just before you hit the button to flash, you swap the chip on the pinheader with the one that isnt working. That way you don't need to use flashbios.

I'd try it with the original cables if you can get your hands on some, then try the hotswap if still required.

 

[tuberbob]

No go with the original cables. I still get an amber light. I can't understand why the damned thing has never been able to get into the backup bios. So I guess at this point the hotswap is my only other option?

 

[Rookio]

Yeah I think so. Either that or put the chip into an older version xbox to flash it.

Like I mentioned earlier, the 1.6b's will never go into backup bios becasue they require 3.0.3 flashbios to work. The backup bios is only version 3.0.1

It's a shame, but once you;ve got it working, you can reflash your backup bios with 3.0.3 so that you are safe for the future.

 

[tuberbob]

well this blows on a lot of different levels. How do I go about finding people in my area with x3s? I don't imagine there's a chipped xbox directory, huh? sh*t, I am the only guy I know that has an xbox...

 

[Rookio]

Where are you located, you'll probaby find somebody not too far away that can help you out.

 

[tuberbob]

Hah, oops, I could have mentioned that too, I suppose. I am in Southern California. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

 

[Rookio]

No probs. The other option is to make a post in the Traders section on the forum requesting someone near your location.

 

[Ascoe]

[19:49:50] <ATK_lap> you shouldnt need the programmerr for the x3
[19:50:40] <B19_j0|\|> there is a backup on the x3
[19:50:48] <B19_j0|\|> NONONONO
[19:51:02] <Ascoe> http://www.teamxecuter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32182
[19:52:02] <Ascoe> h needs 3.0.3
[19:52:04] <Ascoe> heh
[19:55:29] <ATK_lap> 303 is on bank 2
[19:55:36] <ATK_lap> off on off off off


and if that doesnt work, you can drive to huntington beach and i'll help you program it

 

[iamcanadian2222]

I'm having the exact same problem. I have a couple other xbox's, but they are set up with wire methods for other chips. I am going to try to get my hands on an older xbox and reflash it using the (3.01) backup.

All this happened because my friend decided to try out the "password" features (which seem to have some flaw on 1.6b's) while I was FTPing files to another xbox.